Neighborhood Buddhist Temple 2

While I was staying at the wonderful Journeys Within B&B just outside of Siem Reap I could hear the almost constant chanting from a nearby wat (Buddhist temple). I took off walking through the fields until I found the wat. It was particularly active as it was in the period leading up to Pchum Ben (festival of the ancestors) which is Cambodia's major religious and national festival.

In 2007, I made my first, but not my last, trip to Cambodia. This trip was to Siem Reap to see the temples of Angkor Wat and to do some so-called 'voluntourism'. I was touched more than I ever could have imagined by the beautiful and indomitable spirit of the Cambodian people.

I became close to my tuk tuk driver and his family. Now I am trying to spread the word about how wonderful a visit to Angkor Wat can be and how transformational an experience it can be to get to know the Cambodian people.

I made a return trip this past September. This time I spent 4 days in Phnom Penh and then 10 days in Siem Reap again.

If you go, I know a great driver for you! See the informational website I have put together for my friend the tuk tuk driver (http:www.angkortuktuk.net).

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Journeys
• Within
• Siem
• Reap
• Angkor
• Wat
• Pchum
• Ben